A/N: I do apologize...I know you guys probably hate me by now for my lack of updates. I just have gotten completely wrapped up in GX, and b/c of that its hard to write for a DM story. But I promise I won't give up and I will try to make updates quicker. My chapters may be getting smaller now, but we are getting down to the wire and I can't crank out as much without making it filler. Sorry for everything and I hope I didn't lose any readers. Here...have a thank you for following cookie. -hands you all an entire tray-

Unreal Truths

Chapter 29: Consequences

Ryou's POV

I felt my heart nearly leap out of my chest when Kaz came out and said he needed to talk to us. This could be very bad, or, well, just plain bad. Since when was anything actually good around here?

I gave a sigh and stood up, motioning for Bakura to follow me. He and Mariku moved in tandem and stood up, looking for me to lead them.

I then turned my gaze to Ishizu and Odion, to see what they were going to do. They looked to each other before standing as well, walking over to join Mariku, Bakura and I.

Kaz watched this little transaction unfold before nodding to me, the designated leader, and taking us once again back to his office.

I didn't waste any time in getting to the point, "Alright Kaz, what's wrong with him now?"

The older doctor sighed, sitting down in his desk and resting his head in his hands, "It's...complicated."

"How complicated?" I felt my heart flutter, and I looked to Mariku to see if he was doing alright, to get some sort of sign of Marik's condition.

Mariku looked fine to me, aside from the deep frown on his face, betraying how truly worried he was about his Omote.

I wished I could comfort him.

Giving a small sigh I turned back to Kaz, waiting patiently for him to answer me.

Kaz fidgeted in his seat, looking between each member of the group before returning his gaze to me, "Well…Marik's condition is…fragile…" He bit his lip and folded his hands in front of him before continuing on. "It appears that in the rush to stabilize Marik we…we erm, missed some things."

I narrowed my eyes and leaned forward, causing Kaz to flinch slightly, "Missed some things…like what?"

The older doctor looked away, eyes downcast.

My stomach clenched and suddenly I felt angry, "Dr. Kaz…Marik."

Kaz slowly looked back up, meeting my glare reluctantly, "Mr. Ishtar had some additional brain tissue damage and bleeding that we missed, which caused a seizure of sorts. Long story short, we fixed the problem but…"

I gripped the chair hard, not deflecting my gaze at all, "But?"

"There may be a bit more brain damage…and his body is weaker now, so he will have to remain in ICU and I will have to restrict visitors to one at a time."

I felt the tears quickly rise to my eyes before I had a chance to stop them. This was not what I planned on at all.

"So…it's worse?"

Kaz shifted, but this time didn't look away, "I wouldn't say worse, but he's not any better."

I saw Mariku shift out of the corner of my eyes, and I turned to see that he was comforting Bakura.

I was surprised to see that the former thief had his head buried in his hands and his shoulders were shaking slightly.

Was he crying?

I felt nearly sick to my stomach, sadness overtaking me.

There was actually a good chance that Marik wouldn't make it out of this alive.

"I'm sorry…I know you must all care for your friend very deeply, though I am sure with your support he stands a very good chance at recovery."

Yeah, now Kaz was just playing the pity card. He didn't believe Marik was going to make it out of this alive, but he didn't want us losing faith.

Even though it felt hopeless, I wasn't planning on giving up. Marik wouldn't give up on me if I was in his situation, and I was going to repay the favor.

"So…when can we see him?" Bakura looked up, his wet cheeks the only sign that he had been crying, and the tear lines were so faint that even I doubted he had been.

"Well…you can't see him just yet. He's been taken to surgery so we can fix the bleeding and such. You guys can either wait in the waiting room or go home. Either way I will contact you once Marik can receive visitors."

Bakura's shoulders sank, but he nodded regardless and stood up.

I joined him and turned to Ishizu and Odion. Marik's sister had her head down, tears streaming down her cheeks. Odion had his arms around her loosely, his own eyes watering. I sighed softly and nodded in thanks to Kaz and he lead our little group back to a smaller, private waiting room for families in similar situations to ours.

I suddenly had an odd feeling of guilt grip my stomach, as if all of this could have been prevented somehow. I knew the thought was ridiculous, but it still didn't stop it from coming.

"It's not your fault Landlord, it's mine."

I looked up at the sound of Bakura's voice, and I could see the toll of strain and stress in his eyes and I suddenly had the urge to go over and hug the former spirit.

Where I would have hesitated in the past, I felt no such reservations now as I walked over and wrapped my arms around Bakura tightly.

I expected to get pushed off, yelled at, or the very least have him pull away, but I was surprised when all he did was lean further into my touch.

"It's going to be okay Bakura. Marik is a strong person, and if anyone can make it through, it will be him."

I felt Bakura shift slightly, and I could practically feel the smile creep onto his face through the bond, "You're right Ryou…"

I smirked in triumph and looked to Mariku. He was leaning back in his seat with a soft smile on his face, his eyes directed my way.

For the first time since Bakura and Mariku arrived, I felt like everything was right in the world, and that we could make things work.

Now only if Marik would wake up.

We must have sat there for nearly two hours before Kaz finally came out and told us that Marik was out of surgery and in recovery. We could begin to see him one at a time if we wished.

I looked around the room, and I knew Bakura's gaze was on me. He wanted to go in the room first and be with Marik, just in case on the off chance he would wake up, Bakura would be by his bedside.

I knew though, that it was only fair if we let the family go back first.

Bakura got my vibe through the bond and nodded to me, and I took that as a cue to address Odion and Ishizu.

"I think one of you should go in first. It's only fair since you are family."

The two Ishtar siblings glanced between each other before seeming to decide on who would go first. Odion sat back down and Ishizu gave me a grateful nod of her head before heading back through the door, following Kaz back through the hall to ICU.

I heaved small sigh before standing up and stretching, looking to each person in the room before asking, "Anybody want anything? We haven't eaten all day and I am going to go get some food."

"I don't want anything that doesn't have liquor in it."

I rolled my eyes and looked to Bakura who gave me a graceful shrug of his shoulders, "My day has sucked ass, don't you think I have suffered long enough? I am entitled to get completely wasted."

"Alright…I will run by the liquor store, anybody else want anything normal?"

Odion shook his head and Mariku tilted his head to the side, "I would like some of that fluffy sweet stuff you gave me the other day."

I blinked at the bronze yami, "…You want cotton candy?"

Mariku grinned and nodded, making me chuckle and roll my eyes.

"Alright then…I am going to go get…cotton candy and beer, may as well call Yugi too." I sighed and walked out the door, leaving the two yami's and eldest Ishtar sibling alone.

Bakura's POV

I didn't exactly appreciate Ryou leaving Mariku and I alone in the waiting room with Odion Ishtar, but I didn't want to leave, just in case something happened with Marik.

Still, it didn't mean the atmosphere wasn't very tense and awkward.

Odion was trying not to look at us, but I could see him shooting glances towards Mariku and I every so often.

Finally, I heard him sigh softly and get out of his seat, walking over so he was standing directly in front of Mariku and I.

Mariku looked up, a puzzled and guarded look on his face as Odion held out his hand.

The Egyptian yami stared at it with a puzzled expression before looking to me.

I gave a shrug and looked back to Odion who sighed and rolled his eyes.

"I am trying to make a truce here."

Mariku blinked in confusion and I cocked an eyebrow, "A truce?"

Odion nodded, his hand still extended, "I know that Marik is going to wake up, and when he does you are going to become a part of his life whether Ishizu and I like it or not. I would rather be the bigger man and extend my friendship to you, so that we don't have to avoid each other every time we happen to be in the same house."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, Odion really wanted to make peace?

At any other time I would have laughed and slapped his hand away, but now? Let's just say that a lot had changed over the past several months.

Mariku turned back to Odion, staring at his hand intently before slowly reaching out and grasping firmly. He turned his violet eyes upward and smiled a tiny bit when Odion grinned.

I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it myself.

Odion then turned to me, his expression turning uncertain.

I sighed heavily and held out my hand, rolling my eyes to the side and not even looking as the elder Ishtar grasped my hand firmly, "Thank you Bakura, I appreciate it."

I huffed, but couldn't help the small smile that cracked across my face.

Like I said, a lot had changed.

It was then that Ishizu came back out from Marik's room, eyes puffy and cheeks streaked with tears.

"That was fast." Odion frowned and walked over to his sister, putting his arms around her shoulders.

Ishizu shrugged and moved over to sit down, "It's just…too depressing to see him like that. I mean, he isn't…" She bit back a sob and shook her head, "He looks so sick Odion. I just…I feel bad but I can't sit in there and stare at him…"

Odion nodded and patted her back, "It's okay Ishizu, I understand. This place is just too depressing…how about we go and get some fresh air then?"

Ishizu turned her head to look at Mariku and I before looking back at her brother, "But Odion-"

"Don't worry about them. They aren't going to hurt anybody anymore."

The only Ishtar female gave me a scathing look but sighed in defeat as Odion began pulling her towards the exit, "Come on Ishizu, let's go."

As the two remaining Ishtar siblings left, I turned to look at Mariku.

The bronze yami was sitting in his chair quietly, staring down at his hands with a fascinated gaze. I knew he was thrilled to have his own body, and he never stopped being amazed by it.

I spoke softly, not wanting to jerk Mariku our of his slight haze, "Someone should be with Marik right now."

Mariku looked up, violet eyes focusing in on my own, "You should go, you are good for Omote."

"You're just as good." I stood up and walked over to my partner in crime and best friend for these past few months, "I think he would do well to have you there too."

"I don't know about that…" Mariku turned his head to the side and I rested my hand on his thigh, "I think you should go to him Mariku." I smiled reassuringly when he looked up and he gave a small grin in return.

I gestured to the door, "Room 117 the nurse said, go on, I will be here waiting when you come back."

Mariku nodded and got up, walking through the double doors and leaving me alone.

I heaved a small sigh and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling with a tired gaze.

Marik better wake up soon because this was just getting to be too much for me.